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'{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2013}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox Bridge |bridge_name = Tasman Bridge |image = Tasman Bridge Dusk.jpg |caption = |carries = [[Tasman Highway]] |crosses = [[Derwent River (Tasmania)|Derwent River]] |locale = [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]], Australia |maint = [[Department of State Growth]] |id = |design = [[Prestressed concrete]] [[Girder bridge|Girder]] |mainspan = {{convert|95|m}} |length = {{convert|1,395|m}} |width = {{convert|17.5|m}} |height = {{convert|60.5|m}} |clearance = |below = {{convert|46|m}} |traffic = 72,000 (2012) |lanes = 5 |builder = [[Reed & Mallik]] |fabricator = [[Braithwaite & Co.]] |begin = May 1960 |complete = {{end date|1964|12|23|df=y}} |closed = |coordinates = {{coord|42|51|54|S|147|20|33|E|region:AU-TAS_type:landmark|display=it}}}} The '''Tasman Bridge''' is a bridge that carries the [[Tasman Highway]] over the [[Derwent River, Tasmania|Derwent River]] in [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]], Australia. Including approaches, the bridge has a total length of {{convert|1,396|m}} and it provides the main traffic route from the [[Hobart city centre]] (on the western shore) to the eastern shore. The bridge has a [[Grade-separated|separated]] [[pedestrian]] footway on each side. There is no dedicated lane for bicycles; however, steps to the pedestrian footway were replaced with ramps in 2010.<ref name="cyclingtas">{{cite web |year=2010 |url=http://www.cyclingsouth.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid= |title=Cycling South Tasmania - Tasman Hwy and Bridge |access-date=18 July 2013}}</ref> ==History== [[File:Tasman Bridge.jpg|thumb|Tasman Bridge from [[Mount Nelson, Tasmania|Mount Nelson]]]] In the 1950s with the development of the Eastern shore, it was decided to build a larger bridge; the old [[Hobart Bridge]] faced increasing difficulty in managing the larger volumes of traffic that came with development, and constantly raising the [[Vertical-lift bridge|lift span]] for shipping was disruptive. In November 1959 [[Reed & Mallik]] was awarded a contract to build the bridge.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103070746 New £4m Bridge for Derwent] ''[[Canberra Times]]'' 28 November 1959 page 3</ref> Construction commenced in May 1960 and the first two lanes bridge opened on 18 August 1964.<ref>Giant Bridge Opened ''[[Truck & Bus Transportation]]'' September 1964 page 109</ref><ref>Tasman Bridge ''[[Australian Transport]]'' October 1964 page 27</ref> The other two lanes opened on 23 December 1964. It was officially opened on 18 March 1965 by [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester]]. ==Disaster== {{Main|Tasman Bridge disaster}} On 5 January 1975, the Tasman Bridge was struck by the [[bulk ore carrier]] ''[[SS Lake Illawarra|Lake Illawarra]]'', bound for [[EZ Industries]]' [[Risdon Zinc Works]] with a cargo of {{convert|10000|ST|t|0|order=flip|lk=on}} of [[zinc concentrate]].<ref name=yearbook>{{cite web | year = 2002 | url = http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/7a88395760718555ca256c32002417ba?OpenDocument | title = Tasmanian Year Book, 2000 | publisher = [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] | access-date = 22 February 2008}}</ref> It caused two [[Tower#Transportation support|pylons]] and three sections of concrete decking, totalling {{convert|127|m|ft|0}}, to fall from the bridge and sink the ship. Seven of the ship's crewmen were killed, and five motorists died when four cars drove over the collapsed sections before the traffic was stopped. A major press shot showed a [[Holden Monaro#HQ|Holden Monaro HQ]] and [[Holden EK]] perched balancing on the ledge.<ref>{{cite web | year = 2000 | url = http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/brd1.htm | title = Bridge gone | publisher = Tasmanian Government | access-date = 22 February 2008}}</ref> The depth of the river at this point ({{convert|35|m|ft|0}}) is such that the wreck of ''Lake Illawarra'' still lies on the bottom, with concrete slab on top of it, without presenting a navigation hazard to smaller vessels. The breakage of an important arterial link isolated the residents in Hobart's eastern suburbs – the relatively short drive across the Tasman Bridge to the city suddenly became a {{convert|50|km|mi|0|adj=on}} journey via [[Bridgewater Bridge (Tasmania)|the estuary's next bridge]] at [[Bridgewater, Tasmania|Bridgewater]]. The only other vehicular crossing within Hobart after the bridge collapsed was the Risdon Punt, a [[cable ferry]] which crossed the river from East Risdon and Risdon, some five kilometres upstream from the bridge. However, it was totally inadequate, carrying only eight cars on each crossing, and although ferries provided a service across the Derwent River, it was not until December 1975 that a two lane, {{convert|788|m|ft|0|adj=mid|-long}} [[bailey bridge]] was opened to traffic, two kilometres to the north from [[Dowsing Point]] to Cleburne Point thereby restoring some connectivity.<ref>Hobart's Temporary Bridge ''Australian Transport'' April 1976 pages 34/35</ref> The bailey bridge remained in use until replaced by the [[Bowen Bridge]] in 1984.<ref>Hobart ''[[Transit Australia|Electric Traction]]'' May 1984 page 93</ref> The separation of Hobart saw an immediate surge in the small and limited ferry service then operating across the river.<ref name=yearbook/> In a primary position to provide a service were the two ferries of [[Bob Clifford]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}} He had introduced the locally-built ferries ''Matthew Brady'' and ''James McCabe'' to the river crossing, from the [[Hobart city centre]] to the eastern shore, shortly before the collision. These were soon joined by the ''Cartela'', a wooden vessel of 1912 vintage, and ''[[Kosciusko (ferry)|Kosciusko]], [[Lady Ferguson]]'' and ''[[Lady-class ferry|Lady Wakehurst]]'' that were loaned by the [[Public Transport Commission]].<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110632428 New terminals for ferries on three weeks] ''Canberra Times'' 11 January 1975 page 1</ref><ref>A Friend in Need ''[[Transport News]]'' March 1975 page 3</ref> On 20 June 2007, a [[Crane (machine)|crane]] toppled whilst carrying out works on the bridge, and precariously hung for a number of hours off the side of the barriers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,21937064-5007221,00.html |title=Crane drama on Tasman Bridge |date=21 June 2007 |access-date=22 February 2008 |publisher=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626230423/http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,21937064-5007221,00.html |archive-date=26 June 2007 }}</ref> ==Reconstruction== Reconstruction of the Tasman Bridge by [[John Holland Group|John Holland]] commenced in October 1975. An important factor of the reconstruction is the improved safety measures. Some examples: *Large vessels passing beneath the bridge must now do so slightly to the west of the original main navigation span. *Personnel controlling ships (or [[harbor pilot]]s) must be trained and then cleared for using the special [[laser]] [[lighthouse]] that indicates by colours whether the ship must be steered left or right to regain the centre line. *All road traffic is now halted whilst large vessels transit beneath the bridge. On top of the new safety measures implemented, the bridge was further upgraded to hold a fifth lane.<ref name=yearbook/><ref name=Clarence>{{cite web | year = 2004 | url = http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1514 | title = Tasman Bridge disaster | publisher = [[City of Clarence|Clarence City Council]] | access-date = 22 February 2008}}</ref> This upgrade included the construction of a lane management system which would enable the new middle lane to function as a [[reversible lane]]. The system consists of a traffic light system and a sign above each lane, pictured right. The signs, in conjunction with the traffic light system, employ a [[pulley]] system to periodically pull the signs over their appropriate lanes. The middle lane points towards the city side (or western shore) during a.m. peak hours and points back towards the eastern shore during p.m. peak hours. The lane generally points towards the eastern shore during non-peak hours. The Tasman Bridge repair took two years and cost approximately $44 million.<ref name=Clarence/> The bridge reopened on 8 October 1977.<ref name=yearbook/><ref name=Clarence/><ref>The Roads ''Australian Transport'' October 1978 page 6</ref> ==Gallery== {{Wide image|Tasman_Bridge_Night_Panorama.jpg|1600 px|Panorama of the Tasman Bridge at night.}} <gallery> Image:Tasman-under-from-east-shore.jpg|View of the bridge from the eastern shore Image:Tasman-bridge-from-south.jpg|Looking towards the Tasman Bridge from [[Montagu Bay]] Image:NS14TasmanBridge.JPG|Dinghy and the bridge. Image:Tasman-bridge-fixed-span.jpg|The repaired bridge span Image:Tasman Bridge Hobart1.jpg|The view of the Bridge from [[Mount Wellington (Tasmania)|Mount Wellington]] Image:Derwent River 013.jpg|A view of the bridge from the river Image:Tasman Bridge from Western shore.JPG|Tasman Bridge from the Western shore Bridge into Hobart.jpg|Entering the bridge from the eastern shore Tasman Bridge towards Rose Bay, Hobart, Tasmania (36103737153).jpg|Entering the bridge from the west side </gallery> ==See also== *[[List of disasters in Australia by death toll]] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{More footnotes|date=April 2009}} *Reference: Lewis, Tom. ''By Derwent Divided''. Darwin: Tall Stories, 1999. *Ludeke, M. (2006) ''Ten Events Shaping Tasmania's History.'' Hobart: Ludeke Publishing. ==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} *[https://www.rosebayhigh.education.tas.edu.au/webcam/ Live webcam view of Hobart including the Tasman Bridge] *[http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/traffic_cameras/traffic_camera_-_abc_round-a-bout4 Traffic camera view of the Tasman Bridge] *Archival photographs of construction of the Tasman Bridge: [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/fbr3.htm page 1], [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/fbr4.htm page 2]. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070425210548/http://ink.news.com.au/mercury/mathguys/articles/1995/951208a1.htm 1995 article about Tasman Bridge safety] *[http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/hobartbr.htm Hobart To Tasman Bridge 1938-2000] * {{Structurae|id=20001193|title=Tasman Bridge}} {{Hobart landmarks}} {{Road infrastructure in Hobart}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Bridges in Hobart]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1964]] [[Category:Landmarks in Hobart]] [[Category:Roads with a reversible lane]] [[Category:Road bridges in Tasmania]] [[Category:River Derwent (Tasmania)]] [[Category:1964 establishments in Australia]]'